Decisions of the Summit Meeting of the Seven-Party Alliance and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) 8 November 2006 Respecting the popular mandate in favour of democracy, peace and progress expressed through repeated historic struggles and people’s movements from the pre-1951 era to date; Reaffirming full commitments to the 12-point understanding and the 8-point agreement concluded between the Seven Political Parties and the Maoists and the 25-point code of conduct along with all other agreements, understandings, codes of conduct concluded between the Government of Nepal and CPN-Maoists and the letters of similar spirit sent to the United Nations by the Government of Nepal and the Maoists; Pledging for forward-looking restructuring of the state by resolving the prevailing problems related with class, ethnicity, regional and gender differences; Reiterating commitments to competitive multiparty democratic system, civil liberties, fundamental rights, human rights, complete press freedom and all other democratic norms and values including the rule of law; Guaranteeing the fundamental rights of the Nepalese people to cast their votes in the Constituent Assembly polls without any kind of fear; Keeping democracy, peace, prosperity, forward-looking socio-economic transformation of the state as well as the independence, integrity, sovereignty and dignity of the country at the centre, the summit meeting of the Seven Parties and the Maoists today, November 8, 2006 has taken the following decisions in order to implement the commitments made by the two sides to hold the election to the Constituent Assembly by June 15, 2007 in a free and fair manner. I. Relating to the implementation of the past agreements 1. All the agreements, understandings and codes of conduct signed in the past shall be implemented in full with sincerity and strictness. 2. A high-level commission shall be constituted to investigate and make public the whereabouts of citizens reported to have been disappeared by the state and the Maoists in the past. 3. The process of returning the seized property shall be accelerated. Environment shall be ensured for the safe return of the displaced people to their respective homes. Committees comprising representatives of both the sides shall be formed in districts for the purpose. These tasks shall be completed within a month. 4. The State and the CPN (Maoist) shall publicly announce the withdrawal of all accusations and charges against the political leaders and workers and both the sides shall free the political prisoners immediately. II. Relating to the management of arms and the armies The following shall be done in order for holding the election to the Constituent Assembly in a peaceful, fair and fearless environment and for the democratisation and restructuring of the Nepali Army in line with the spirit of the 12-point understanding, 8-point agreement, 25- point code of conduct and the 5-point letters sent to the United Nations: Relating to the Maoist army 1. As per the commitments expressed in the letters sent to the United Nations by the Government of Nepal and the Maoists on August 9, 2006, the combatants of the Maoist army shall be confined to the following temporary cantonments. The United Nations shall verify and monitor them. The main cantonments shall be located in the following places: 1. Kailali, 2. Surkhet, 3. Rolpa, 4. Palpa, 5. Kabhre, 6. Sindhuli, 7. Ilam. There shall be three smaller camps located in the periphery of each of these main camps. 2. All the arms and ammunitions shall be securely stored within the camps except those needed for providing security to the camp after the Maoist combatants are sent to the cantonments. The arms and ammunitions shall be locked with a single padlock and the side concerned shall keep the key to it. For the UN to monitor it, a device with siren as well as recording facility shall be installed during the process of padlocking. The UN shall make necessary inspections of the stored arms in the presence of the party concerned. Technical details in this regard including camera monitoring shall be as per the agreement among the United Nations, the CPN (Maoist) and the Government of Nepal. 3. Once the Maoist combatants are confined to the cantonments, the Government of Nepal shall take care of their ration as well as any other arrangements necessary. 4. The Interim Cabinet shall constitute a Special Committee to carry out monitoring, adjustment and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants. 5. Security arrangements for the Maoist leaders shall be made with the consent of the Government of Nepal. Relating to the Nepali Army 6. The Nepali Army shall be confined to the barracks as per the commitments made in the letters sent to the United Nations. Non-use of its arms for or against either side shall be guaranteed. Like number of arms as those stored by the Maoist Army shall be safely stored also by the Nepali Army. These arms shall be locked with a single padlock and the side concerned shall keep the key to it. For the UN to monitor it, a device with siren as well as recording facility shall be installed during the process of padlocking. The UN shall make necessary inspections of the stored arms in the presence of the party concerned. Technical details in this regard including camera monitoring shall be as per the agreement among the United Nations, the Government of Nepal and the CPN (Maoist). 7. The Council of Ministers shall control, mobilise and manage the Nepali Army in accordance with the new Military Act. The Interim Council of Ministers shall prepare and implement the detailed action plan for the democratisation of the Nepali Army on the basis of political consensus and the suggestions of the committee concerned of the Interim Legislature. This includes, among other things, right-sizing, democratic restructuring reflecting the national and inclusive character and imparting training to the Nepali Army on the values of democracy and human rights. 8. Such functions as border security and security of the conservation areas, National Parks, banks, airports, powerhouses, telephone towers, central secretariat and the distinguished personalities hitherto being carried out by the Nepali Army shall continue. III. Relating to the essence of the interim constitution 1. Relating to the interim constitution a. The Interim Constitution presented by the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee shall be finalised as per the agreements reached today. b. The reinstated House of Representatives shall promulgate the Interim Constitution and the newly formed Interim Legislature shall endorse it. 2. Relating to monarchy a. No state power shall remain with the King. b. The properties owned by the late King Birendra, the late Queen Aishwarya and their family members shall be brought under the control of the Government of Nepal and used in the interest of the nation through a trust. c. All properties (such as palaces at various places, forests and National Parks, heritages of historical and archaeological significance etc.) acquired by King Gyanendra in his monarchical capacity shall be nationalised. d. The issue of whether to continue or scrap the institution of monarchy shall be decided by a simple majority of the Constituent Assembly in its first meeting. 3. Relating to the Interim Legislature/Parliament a. The Interim Legislature shall be unicameral as follows: i. 209 elected members of the seven political parties and other parties who are currently members of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly (excluding those opposed to the people’s movement). Since the United Left Front does not have its representation in the current parliament, members of that party shall be nominated on the basis of consensus. ii. 73 members from the CPN (Maoist). iii. 48 members from among the class and professional organizations, representatives of the disadvantaged communities and regions and political personalities (to be nominated on the basis of understanding). Total number: 330 But those who stood against the people’s movement shall not remain in the Interim Legislature. b. Once the Interim Legislature is formed, the reinstated House of Representatives and the National Assembly shall be dissolved. c. All governmental structures existing in the leadership of the CPN (Maoist) including the people's government and the people's courts shall be dissolved on the day of the formation of the Interim Legislature. d. The Interim Legislature shall run on the basis of political understanding. 4. Relating to the interim government a. The Interim Council of Ministers shall be formed on the basis of consensus. b. The structure and portfolio division of the Interim Council of Ministers shall be determined on the basis of mutual understanding. c. The Interim Government shall run in accordance with the spirit of the joint people’s movement, political understanding and the culture of cooperation. 5. Relating to the judiciary a. The concept and the norms and values of independent judiciary shall be followed. b. The judiciary shall be made committed to the spirit of the people’s movement, democracy and the Interim Constitution. c. A Constitutional Court shall be formed to settle disputes relating to the Constituent Assembly. 6. Relating to the constitutional bodies a. A new Constitutional Council with the membership of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice and the Speaker of the Interim Legislature shall be formed which shall, among other things, recommend names for appointment to the constitutional bodies. Such appointments shall be based on specified criteria. b. The Election Commission shall be made complete on the basis of understanding. 7. Relating to the local bodies a. Interim local bodies shall be formed at the district, town and village levels on the basis of understanding among the seven political parties and the CPN (Maoist). 8. Relating to the issue of citizenship a.